The narrow stone bridge is the landmark of Sohland and can also be found in the city coat of arms. The bridge was built in 1776 and then still led across the Spree. Since the riverbed of the Spree was moved, today only the village stream gently splashes away. Beware of passing over: According to a legend, the bridge collapses when a liar dares to do so.
The Himmelsbrücke (Sky Bridge) is a brick arched bridge over the Sohland village stream in Sohland an der Spree in the Bautzen district. It is considered a landmark of the municipality of Sohland. Until 1947, it crossed the Spree.
Named the Himmelsbrücke (Sky Bridge) because of its steeply rising shape, the single-arched bridge, made of granite, crosses the Sohland village stream at the western foot of the Frühlingsberg. One keystone bears the inscription "SoliDe o Gloria" (incorrectly separated due to space constraints), and the other bears the year 1796.
The narrow bridge, which was once also used by wagons, is now only accessible to pedestrians. It is protected as a cultural monument. The Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail and the Spree Cycle Path pass by the Himmelsbrücke.
The dialect poet Hermann Klippel dedicated the poem "De Himmelsbrücke" (The Sky Bridge) to the bridge.
The dialect poet Hermann Klippel dedicated the poem "De Himmelsbrücke" (The Sky Bridge) to the bridge. The bridge was built in 1796 near the White Mill on the Kirchsteig from Wendischsohland to Mittelsohland as a crossing over the Spree, replacing a wooden bridge documented since 1709.
In 1876, the bridge was chosen as the motif for the seal and municipal coat of arms of the newly formed municipality of Sohland. Since the Spree River regulation in 1947, the Himmelsbrücke (Heavenly Bridge) has crossed the Sohland village stream.
According to a popular legend, the Himmelsbrücke (Heavenly Bridge) was built out of "revenge." In the past, when taxes were still collected by horse, people were exploited. They often had nothing, and what little they had was taken away from them. So the villagers decided to build a bridge that neither carriages, nor horses, nor the debt collector (he was a bit chubby) could cross, as it would have to be built so steeply and narrowly.
Source: Wikipedia
Translated by Google •
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